The Importance of Elections by Frank Jimmy Hines Many people out there (most, actually) will tell you that they’re fair – that they’re impartial when it comes to judging your fate when it lies in their hands. They’re not necessarily lying, as they honestly believe it themselves; in truth – despite their good intentions – few actually are. In the world of representation, I’ve witnessed the best of men (and women) as they find themselves at the blurred line of what is right or wrong, fair or unjust, company or union… and not everyone lands on the right side of that line. Personal opinions and beliefs creep in to alter a person’s judgment, causing irrational decision making and resulting in biased resolutions. Now I’m sure that may seem like a good thing to those of you who lie in good favor with those individuals, but what if you’re suddenly not? Those who are friends today may be enemies tomorrow… and where would that leave you? I’m here to tell you that I, myself, have witnessed this injustice in action and called it for what it is. In the world of normal people, it’s friends over foes, personal opinion over fairness of action. Maybe it’s something as simple as fighting harder for your friends… but then again, maybe it’s disregarding the contract altogether when it comes to a friend and another member. Maybe it’s pushing an issue to the side because you don’t like a person. Maybe it’s looking at a member’s history of indiscretions and jumping to the conclusion that they ‘deserve’ to be fired, when in all actuality, those mistakes have nothing to do with the current issue. Maybe it’s even passively agreeing to something because it doesn’t affect you, even when it will affect someone else. You see, the personal opinions of your representatives (and their tendency toward them) can truly have an effect on you, the member, and the benefits (or lack thereof) you receive. For me, that line is clear; my personal opinion plays no role in how hard I fight for you. Whether you’re my best friend, someone I’ve just met, or even on my list of less than favorite people, none of it matters when I walk through the doors to represent you. What does matter? The contract, fairness, and the fact that I was entrusted (by you) with the great responsibility of your protection… and I take that responsibility to heart. Sure, you may be thinking, he’s just saying that like everyone else does… but I can say with absolute certainty that it’s true. I have no enemies on the floor – my enemies are up in that office – and if nothing else assures you that I will represent you fairly, just know that I have an overwhelming desire to beat management at their own game. As a committeeman entrusted with your well-being, I have to look further than today and view every outcome in terms of how it will impact the lives of every brother and sister on the floor for years to come. Every decision that I make impacts how others will be affected in the future. It is my job to scrutinize every detail and recognize how any small change may open loop-holes for the company to screw us over. You see, I am built a bit differently than other people. My day doesn’t end just because I clock out. I stay over late and come in early – because I was elected to represent all three shifts, not just one. When I go home, I don’t just sit on the couch and watch TV… I research the contract book, NLRB laws, bargaining strategies, etc… because my ability to represent you effectively depends on it – and because it’s actually fun for me. The knowledge I’ve collected over the past three years has proved to be a bit of a challenge for management. At one point they even called in a specialist to try to beat us on an FMLA issue… the woman smiled smugly, stating “The law is 800 pages if you want to read it” – believing I would be deterred and just take her word on it – and let me tell you, the smile fell right off her face when she realized I would read all 800 pages and discover that she was lying. You see, half of management’s strategy is to presume us all to be lazy and uneducated – and I pride myself on proving them wrong. When it comes to disputes between members, the contract rules above all and I make my decisions based upon its language. How else then, if not for the contract, is a person to make an unbiased decision? If I alter the contract for one person – or even a group of people – is that not still favoritism? While some of you may not like a decision I make from time to time, I can promise you that in my heart I believe it is the right one to make. Someone will always be disappointed when it comes to disputes between members – and while it hurts me to know that someone will always feel let down, I take pride in knowing that I will not make a call that I’m unwilling stand behind. You see, for me, it is not about popularity, position, or false promises to get elected… it is about fairness, protecting my brothers and sisters, and working toward a better life for all of us. So what is the point of mentioning all this? It is not my intention to create suspicion or worry, but to impress upon you the importance that your vote plays in your future. It is not as easy as casting a name on a ballot, simply because it is “the union” and the results are “inconsequential”… as a matter of fact, the results of these elections impact your life much more than you could ever know.
Posted on: Sun, 16 Mar 2014 17:31:09 +0000
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